Miller Construction is to deliver the new state-of-the-art Alford Community Campus, it has been announced.

The firm has been selected by Aberdeenshire Council after hub North Scotland Limited secured financial close on the facility at Greystone Road, which is valued at £31.4m.

As part of the design, build, finance and maintain contract, Miller will also provide facilities and lifecycle management services for the building for 25 years following its completion.

The campus has been designed by Halliday Fraser Munro architects of Aberdeen and has been designed to meet the needs of future generations. It will also replace the current primary and secondary schools which are located to the east of the new site. The plans include nursery, primary and secondary education facilities with integrated public facilities, including a library, swimming pool, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, natural and artificial pitches and car parking.

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Miller Construction, who is the main contractor on the project, has been on site since October 2013 delivering enabling works. Main construction works will now commence within the coming weeks, and a scheduled completion date has been given for October 2015.

Chris Webster, Chief Executive, Miller Construction, said: "We are delighted to have been appointed as main contractor to deliver Alford Community Campus and to provide ongoing aftercare service for these new facilities.

"We have a long track record of delivering high quality and best value schools and public buildings with lasting community benefits. We now look forward to working with all the participating stakeholders on the project and to building lasting relationships with these schools and the communities they will serve."

Angus Macfarlane, Chief Executive, hub North Scotland Limited, added: "The Alford Community Campus will make a real difference to the village and the surrounding area and we are delighted to be starting work. We are committed to working in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, Miller Construction and the local community to move forward with what are very exciting plans.

"Hub North Scotland's role is to deliver first class community facilities and we look forward to doing that in Alford. Across the north of Scotland we are beginning to see the fruits of the hub model, with development across the health, education and emergency services sectors. It is rewarding to see communities benefiting from a very strong and efficient partnership approach."

The ambitious project is being delivered by hub North Scotland Limited as part of Phase 3 of the Scottish Government Scotland's Schools for the Futures Programme and has been developed in partnership with the Scottish Futures Trust.

(JP/MH)